In a first, royal finances face House scrutiny

Feb 10, 2013, 02.58AM ISTTNN

LONDON: In an unprecedented move, finances of the UK's queen mother and the royal family will soon be investigated by a powerful Westminster committee.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), known to give a tight lashing to public servants misusing state money, will check whether the monarch and her family provide value for money to the taxpayer, reported the Daily Telegraph.

Among the areas the committee is expected to examine are transport costs including the Royal Train and the Royal Flight, as well as money spent on official entertaining and the upkeep of royal palaces, said the Independent. This has been made possible after George Osborne scrapped the Civil List - an annual handout to the Royal Family that has had to be approved by parliament since 1760 - in favour of paying the monarch 15% of the income from the Crown Estates as a new "Sovereign Grant".

Crown Estate assets include Regent Street in London, Ascot racecourse and Windsor Great Park - 265,000 acres of farmland - as well as ownership of the national seabed stretching out 12 nautical miles around Britain. The Independent said money given to junior royals to support their work backing up the Queen will also be scrutinized.

The committee may also examine whether Buckingham Palace is doing enough to raise money itself by selling the royal brand. For example while Buckingham Palace now opens to paying visitors during the summer some have argued it should be open all year round.